New Delhi: The Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vishnow on Friday said that Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) project has significantly impacted employment and economic development in the Kashmir region, generating over 5 crore man-days of employment.
According to an official statement the Union Minister said that the project has facilitated the transportation of apples and other commodities, such as cement, enhancing connectivity and passenger flow to and from Kashmir. The USBRL, which spans a total length of 272 km, connects several districts in Jammu and Kashmir, including Udhampur, Reasi, Ramban, Srinagar, Anantnag, Pulwama, Budgam, and Baramulla. It is recognized as one of the most challenging railway projects in India since independence, navigating through the complex terrain of the young Himalayas.
Notable engineering achievements include the construction of the world’s highest railway bridge over the Chenab River and India’s first cable-stayed bridge over Anji Khad. In addition to the railway infrastructure, the project has led to the construction of over 215 km of approach roads, including a tunnel and 320 small bridges, which have improved local connectivity and contributed to socio-economic development. Following the commissioning of the project, Indian Railways has introduced multiple Vande Bharat services and DEMU/MEMU services to enhance rail connectivity in the region. To further extend rail connectivity, surveys for the Baramulla-Uri new line (46 km) and Banihal-Baramulla doubling (118 km) have been completed, with a Detailed Project Report prepared. The sanctioning of these projects will involve consultations with various stakeholders, including state governments and necessary approvals from entities such as NITI Aayog and the Ministry of Finance. The timeline for project sanctioning remains contingent on these appraisals and approvals.
